This new mall will be another nail in the coffin of downtown Augusta as a viable entertainment and shopping destination for Columbia County residents. The extra traffic in between the prime residential areas in Columbia County and the few remaining interesting places to go downtown will deter many people from making the trip.
Developers call malls that combine retail with significant dining and entertainment options “destination locations.” Well, the destination is Columbia County, and though this place is in Richmond County, it is the latest example of the shift of mass and money from Augusta.